Taiwan makes it easier for citizens to drive in Japan

Digitalized translations should become valid in 2019: DGH

Driving in Japan will soon become easier for citizens of Taiwan (photo by katorisi) (By Wikimedia Commons)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) - Taiwanese looking to drive a car in Japan will soon receive help from the Ministry of Transportation’s Directorate General of Highways (DGH) in the shape of digitalized translations of driver’s licenses.

Taiwanese citizens are only allowed to drive in Japan if they can present a Japanese translation of their original Taiwanese driver’s license, the Central News Agency reported.

The document usually costs NT$100 (US$3.2) per person and takes some time to be issued by motor vehicles offices in Taiwan.

With the number of Taiwanese traveling to Japan increasing year by year, an estimated 200,000 applications for the translations are made each year, CNA reported.

Taiwanese and Japanese have been allowed to drive in each other’s country with the driver’s license and its translation since September 2007.

The DGH said Saturday it had asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the translation issue with the Japanese government in the hope that the digitalized version could be approved some time next year.